Sermon Central
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The Purpose And Power Of Pentecost Series
Contributed by Jerry Lewis on Jun 17, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 2 The Modern Day Church, For The Most Part, Has Lost The Power Of God. Just like Samson in the Bible, They don’t know that the Spirit of God has left them. They still have the form of Religion but have no power. But it’s a New Day of Restoration!!!
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THE PURPOSE AND POWER OF PENTECOST
Part 2 of 2
Acts 1:5-8
Acts 2:1-4; 12-18; 32-33
What in the world is Pentecost???
The word “ Pentecost” designates the 50th day after Passover, which was a Feast Day. Also known as the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest.
It was on this day, in the Book of Acts, that the Holy Spirit was poured out on 120 Followers of Christ who were gathered in an Upper Room in Jerusalem. It was on this day that the Church was born in a Blaze of Glory.
Some Time ago I read this statement from the pen of Dr. Jerry Vines (FBC Jacksonville, former Pres. SBC) and I have never forgotten it. It said that The Average Christian And The Average Church are Somewhere Bogged Down Between Calvary and Pentecost. They have been to Calvary for Pardon, but they Have Not Been to Pentecost For Power. Bethlehem means God With Us. Calvary means God For Us. But Pentecost means God In Us. Dr Vines said, Those statements transformed my understanding of the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the average Christian is much like the Ephesians believers when the Apostle Paul came to them in Acts 19:2 and said to them - Did You Receive The Holy Spirit When You Believed? They Replied that they didn’t even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Many Christians do not understand the role of the Holy Spirit and they have not appropriated the power of the Holy Spirit in their own personal life.
J. B. Phillips, who gave us the familiar paraphrase of the New Testament, wrote , What We Need Today Is Again The Wind And The Flame Of Pentecost.
One Baptist Preacher said, “Pentecost is not a Denomination, but is an Experience every Blood – Bought Child of God Should Receive.”
We are privileged to live in a generation when God is Again pouring out His Spirit in a Mighty Way.
The Rain of the Holy Spirit is falling on the Dry, Religious Ground of our day to give Sweet Refreshing to Weary-Hearted Christians and Also to prepare the Precious Fruit of the Earth for Harvest.
The Promise of Pentecost. In Peter’s sermon Acts 2:38-39 NIV Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."
In effect he said this outpouring of the Spirit is not a Special Blessing for a Special Few in a Special Age.
Many of us have allowed the Devil and Religious Tradition to Rob us of the power of God.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is for all people who receive the call to repentance.
Since God is still calling men to unto Salvation, THE PROMISE IS GOOD NOW!!!
Dr. John R. Rice, the famous fundamentalist Baptist preacher, said, “There is an experience after Salvation, called the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. All Saved people do have the Holy Spirit. When someone is saved, the Holy Spirit puts him into the Body of Christ. But besides that, Christians ought to be filled with the Holy Spirit and special Soul-Winning Power. Saved people are not always filled with the Holy Spirit, They Ought to Be, and Can Be, but many are not.“
What Was the Promise of Pentecost? -- It was The Pouring Out of the Holy Spirit upon all Flesh, both Men and Women.
Luke 24:49 NKJV 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Dr. R.A. Torrey said, “The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a definite and distinct experience. A Christian will know whether he has received the Spirit or not.
The Promise Fulfilled. Ten days after Jesus ascended into Heaven He sent the Blessed promise of the Father and the Faithful Ones who had obeyed and waited in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s Sermon Declared, “This is it!!!” This is the fulfillment of the promise!
I. THE PURPOSE OF PENTECOST. One word portrays the purpose of Pentecost – “HARVEST.” Harvest is at the Heart of Pentecost!!!
Joel 2:23-25 NKJV 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you-- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
